Date: November 12 2007

 

Vol-012-11-2007
   

Your Shoulder... a Superlative Joint


Click here to watch our
YouTube video about shoulder injuries!

shoulder injury

 

 

 

 

Did you know that out of all the numerous joints in your body, the shoulder joint is the one with the greatest range of movement?

Unfortunately this impressive title also means that if the stability of this joint is easily compromised, making your shoulder more prone to injuries.

Because of the instability of this area, shoulder injuries immediately affect a variety of anatomical structures along the shoulder's kinetic chain.

Why the cold shoulder?

Shoulder injuries, like many repetitive stress injuries (RSIs), usually build up over long periods of time. The muscles and tissues of the shoulder can be stressed by:

  • Increased physical activity.
  • Acute and repeated trauma to the shoulder.
  • Repetitive actions that involve shoulder movement.
  • Existing muscle imbalances.
  • Soft-tissue restrictions in structures ranging from the shoulder through to the structures in the shoulder's kinetic chain (arm, back, and neck).
  • Scar tissue generated as a result of surgical procedures.

Once the shoulder structures become stressed, our body tries to protect the stressed tissues by laying down restrictive adhesive fibers between muscle layers. Although a thoughtful gesture, these adhesions also bind together the layers of muscles and soft-tissues, restricting their function by preventing them from moving freely.

Much like lighting a string of firecrackers, these restrictions set off a chain of injuries that affect the strength and function of other structures within the shoulder's kinetic chain. By considering kinetic chain relationships, we can see how a single shoulder dysfunction can soon lead to a series of other physical dysfunctions in the back, neck and arms.

More than just a ball and socket

You may remember from grade school learning about the shoulder as being part of the skeletal system, but actually the shoulder joint involves many more structures which are all inter-related and in turn have their own kinetic chains.

The shoulder joint is collectively made up by:

  • Clavicle, or collarbone.
  • Scapula, or shoulder blade.
  • Humerus, a bone in your upper arm that connects with the scapula and the forearm.
  • Rotator cuff muscles and ligaments.
  • Tendons which attached the muscles to the bones.
  • Ligaments which attach bones to bones, and help keep the shoulder in place.
  • Bursa, a fluid-filled sac between the shoulder joint and the rotator cuff, which acts to prevent the rotator cuff from rubbing against the shoulder.

These structures work together to create a balance of forces that provide both mobility and stability. It is important to understand and consider these inter-relationships before trying to resolve any shoulder problems.

Shrug it off!

Traditional treatments for shoulder injuries typically focus on treating the symptoms of the injury as opposed to the cause. This means that treatments take a long time to provide significant relief, and that the relief is usually temporary.

In contrast, by using a technique such Active Release Technique (ART) , practitioners can locate and treat the cause of the injury, to remove the adhesive scar tissue and thereby restore movement, function, strength and flexibility to the all affected areas of the shoulder's kinetic chain.

Your should exercise and stretch regularly to strengthen the structures related to shoulder injuries, both to prevent injuries from occurring, and to help the structures rebuild strength and flexibility after treatment.

shoulder injuries Watch our YouTube video to get more information about shoulder injuries and to see some examples of stretches and exercises that you can use.

 

release your pain

Learn more about shoulder injuries and strengthening exercises and stretches in Dr. Abelson's best-selling book- Release Your Pain.